Horn control for a motor vehicle



Nov. 28, 1939. A CUNHA HORN CONTROL FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE Filed April 25, 1958 I N V EN TUR. Mfk/f/i a flaw 9 /0144,

A TTORNEYS.

n w K w xx Patented Nov. 28, 1939 z asl rilg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE HORN CONTROL FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE Anthony M. Cunha, Providence, R. I., assignor of one-half to Adolph J odoin, Marieville, R. 1.

Application April 25, 1938, Serial No. 204,045

Claims. (01. 200-59 This invention relates to a circuit closing dethe wheel to guide the motor vehicle at the time vice, more particularly adapted for use with the that the horn is sounded, as frequently when the audible signal of a road motor vehicle; and has horn is sounded it is to attract the attention of for one of its objects the provision of a device some person because of the danger of some acci- 5 which may be within easy reach of the hand of dent happening, and at such times it is increas- 5 the operator of the motor vehicle while the hand ingly desirable that the hands he in a position to is in engagement with the gripping portion of the properly guide the vehicle should any eventuality steering wheel so that the horn may be sounded necessitate the same; and in order to carry out without removing the hand from the steering this thought I have provided a ring mounted wheel. just above or below and parallel to the periphery 10 Another object of. the invention is to provide a or gripping portion of the wheel and in such close construction and arrangement of parts so that proximity that by extending any or all of the the usual horn button at the upper end of the four fingers of the hand and leaving the thumb steering column may be entirely dispensed with in engagement with the wheel, the horn may be and this location utilized for mounting of other readily sounded, or various other means may be 15 devices, desired to be in a location convenient utilized for sounding, the horn, such for instance to the driver. as by use of the knee of any means by which a Another object of the invention is the utilizamovement in any direction is imparted to the tion of a soft compressible rubber for mounting ring supported beneath the Wheel; and the 01- the part which is to be engaged for operation of lowing is a more detailed description of the presthe audible signal so that this rubber may be ent embodiment of this invention, illustrating the' easily compressed that a contact may be made preferred means by which these advantageous and yet one of such a character as to provide a results may be accomplished: good insulation between the contacting portions With reference to the drawing, Hi designates 5 and cause them to move one from the other by the annular gripping portion of a motor vehicle its inherent elasticity so that a very efficient and steering wheel which is provided with spokes H inexpensive mounting of the parts may be had. and hub I2 which fits onto the upper end of the Another object of the invention is to arrange steering column of the motor vehicle. Although the construction so that one of the leads from the particular structure of this wheel is not vitalthe contact member may be out of the way and 1y important, that here shown is of the type 30 inconspicuous. which has a steel core l3 with a moldable mate- With these and other objects in view, the inrial I4, usually non-electrical conducting mavention consists of certain novel features of conterial, molded about the steel core !3 of the struction, as will be more fully described, and spokes and about the core I3 of the annular particularly pointed out in the appended claims. gripping portion ID. This steel core serves as a 35 In the accompanying drawing: ground, being connected to the steel core 53" of Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the steering wheel the hub which in turn is mounted upon the steel of a motor vehicle; tube of the steering column. If, however, the Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; wheel is made all of non-electrical conducting Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; material, a second wire will be provided to carry 40 Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; the electrical connection of one side of the brack- Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the contact ring to et, to be hereinafter described, to the steering be engaged for operating the circuit closure and column or some suitable ground, which is the a portion of its bracket mountings; connection to the other side of the source of Fig. 6 is a view on a larger scale showing the energy, such as the battery. 5

manner of connecting the lead in to the hoop-like A bracket l5 having an arm 16 is secured by contact member. bolt I! to the wheel, the bolt ll being in engage- At the present time horn control buttons are ment with the steel core l3 of the wheel, as usually located at the upper end of the steering shown in Fig. 2, thus providing the metallic 5 column. The diameter of the steering wheel bracket 15 in connection with the ground or one 5 which is gripped for guiding the motor vehicle side of the electrical source of energy, such as is of. such extent that the hand must be removed the battery. The bracket 15 comprises a body from the gripping portion of the wheel in order portion ll and flanges l8 which serve to provide to operate the horn, and it is desirable in many a retaining means for an annular ring IQ of instances that the hand remain in position on soft rubber which is easily compressible. These 55 brackets are three in number, one being provided on each of the spokes and they serve to support the contact hoop-like member 20 which is located in or passes through each of the annular rubber rings l9 and is supported by them out of contact with the flanges I 8 of the body member of the bracket.

A lead wire 2! extends through an opening 22 in one bracket and passes through the rubber ring I 9 to extend about a groove 23 and be soldered to the hoop-like contact member 20, this lead wire 22 being molded into one of the spokes H as at 24 and then extends into the hub of the wheel and down the steering column to the horn 25, the horn being in turn connected to a source of electrical energy 26 which may either be grounded or returned direct by lead 21 to the metallic portion of the wheel.

By having an annular flange such as i8 encircling the hoop-like contact member 20 at the three locations, such as shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that a movement in substantially any direction will cause the soft compressible rubber rings I9 to be compressed and a contact made between the hoop-like contact member and the flanges, the hoop-like contact member being so close to the gripping portion of the wheel that the hand may operate it while in engagement with the wheel, thus providing an arrangement entirely independent of the horn button which is now used, which may be eliminated if desired to afford desirable space for other instruments.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A circuit closing device for controlling the audible signal of a road motor vehicle having a steering column and wheel comprising a member extending for a substantial distance within reach of the hands when the hands are in contact with the gripping portion of the steering wheel, a bracket secured to one of the spokes of said wheel and having a portion embracing said member, and compressible means of an insulating nature located between the inner embracing surface of said portion and the exterior surface of said member and supporting said member from and out of contact with said bracket whereby move ment of said member to compress said means causes contact of said member and bracket that electric current may pass.

2. A circuit closing device for controlling the audible signal of a road motor vehicle having a steering column and wheel comprising an annular member having a groove therein and extending for a substantial distance within reach of the hands when the hands are in contact with the gripping portion of the steering wheel, a bracket provided with an aperture therein and secured to said wheel and embracing said annular member at said grooved portion, said bracket being electrically connected to one side of an energizing means, an electric conductor extending through said aperture and secured to said grooved portion for electrically connecting said member to the other side of said energizing means, and compressible means of an insulating nature located between said member and the surface of the bracket adjacent thereto and supporting said member from and out of contact with said bracket whereby movement of said member to compress said means causes contact of said member and bracket that electric current may pass.

3. A circuit closing device for controlling the audible signal of a road motor vehicle having a steering column and wheel having spokes, coinprising a member extending for a substantial distance within reach of the hands when the hands are in contact with the gripping portion of the steering wheel, a bracket secured to one of said spokes and embracing said member, said bracket being electrically connected along one of said spokes to one side of an. energizing means, and said member being electrically connected through one of said spokes to the other side of an energizing means, and compressible means of an insulating nature located between the inner embracing surface of said portion and the exterior surface of said member and supporting said member from and out of contact with said bracket whereby movement of said member to compress said means causes contact of said member and bracket that electric current may pass.

4. A circuit closing device for controlling the audible signal of a road motor vehicle having a steering column and wheel comprising a member extending for a substantial distance within reach of the hands when the hands are in contact with the gripping portion of the steering wheel, a bracket secured to said wheel and providing an annular channel embracing said member, said bracket being electrically connected to one side of an energizing means, and said member being electrically connected to the other side of an energizing means, and a ring of compressible rubber located in said channel and supporting said member from and out of contact with said bracket whereby movement of said member to compress said rubber causes contact of said member and bracket that electric current may pass.

5. A circuit closing device for controlling the audible signal of a road motor vehicle having a steering column and wheel having spokes, comprising a member extending for a substantial distance within reach of the hands when the hands are in contact with the gripping portion of the steering wheel, a bracket secured to one of said spokes and embracing said member, said bracket providing an annular channel being electrically connected along one of said spokes to one side of an energizing means, and said member being electrically connected through one of said spokes to the other side of an energizing means, and a ring of compressible rubber located in said channel and supporting said member from and out of contact with said bracket whereby movement of said member to compress said rubber causes contact of said member and bracket that electric current may pass.

ANTHONY M. CUNI-IA. 

